Guides
Every LA Art Tour guide is an artist, guiding you through their own communities and introducing you to their fellow artist neighbors and friends. These are not people who skimmed a book on the subject or “enthusiasts” who took a class on giving tours. They are all the real deal.
Hector "ShanduOne" Calderon
TOURS: All graffiti/mural tours, Graffiti Workshops
Hector moved to LA from El Paso in 1975. He formed “LA Bomb Squad” (LABS) with other neighborhood kids, and they went on to become internationally recognized as pioneers of the LA graffiti scene. He was the first artist to paint the infamous Belmont Tunnel, and together they used their art as an alternate to gangs and drugs. Still in close contact with the local graffiti/mural scene, Hector works as a graphic artist, fine artist, local youth mentor, and is the proud father of two wonderful daughters. His art has been seen in galleries across LA, in magazines and newspapers, and was published in The History of Los Angeles Graffiti Art and Los Angeles Graffiti.
Baha Danesh
TOURS: Brewery Arts Complex, Special/Private Gallery Tours
Baha is a self taught multi-disciplinary artist based in Los Angeles.
Today she is very involved with L.A.’s underground art community and is the founder of the art collective L’art Pour L’art.
According to Baha Danesh, “creating art is a form of expression that creates culture and culture shapes values and values determine the future.” She believes the creative process is, above all, the best adventure of the mind, body, and soul.
Baha’s website
Galo "Make" Canote
TOURS: All graffiti tours, Craft Beer Tour, Graffiti workshops
Galo is a pure bred Angeleno (born in Los Angeles). Since an early age, he was fascinated with fonts, letters and logos.
Galo says of himself and art: “I painfully strive to pay tribute to not only the letters that inspired me as a child but to those artists who also inspired me, not only in the graffiti art and art scene but those that have surrounded me throughout the years. I grow with art as art has grown in me.”
Galo also contributes to the community by working with at-risk youths, mentoring, teaching and working with non-profit organizations.
Galo on Instagram
Majella Loughran
TOURS: Brewery Arts Complex, Live-Virtual Tour head Videographer
Majella is an artist and professional dancer with the Diavolo Dance Company. She pioneered the LIVE-VIRTUAL Art tours for LA Art Tours, is head videographer and handles LA Art Tour sales functions.
Joshua Elias
TOURS: Brewery Arts Complex, Painting workshops
Joshua is a lyrical abstract artist, writer and poet, interweaving these worlds in his oil paintings. He is highly engaged in utilizing raw materials, making paint, working on fine linen, all foundations acting as a vehicle for a greater understanding of painting. He works daily at his art studio at the Brewery Arts Complex in Los Angeles.
Joshua’s website
Ted Meyer
TOURS: Brewery Arts Complex, private tours
Hector moved to LA from El Paso in 1975. He formed “LA Bomb Squad” (LABS) with other neighborhood kids, and they went on to become internationally recognized as pioneers of the LA graffiti scene. He was the first artist to paint the infamous Belmont Tunnel, and together they used their art as an alternate to gangs and drugs. Still in close contact with the local graffiti/mural scene, Hector works as a graphic artist, fine artist, local youth mentor, and is the proud father of two wonderful daughters. His art has been seen in galleries across LA, in magazines and newspapers, and was published in The History of Los Angeles Graffiti Art and Los Angeles Graffiti.
Joseph "Nuke" Montalvo
TOURS: All graffiti/mural tours, Graffiti Workshops
Nuke hasn’t sent me his bio yet. He’s been a part of the LA graffiti scene for many decades. Here is his Instagram. (Nuke, get me your bio.)
Peggy Nichols
Santa Fe Art Colony Tour
Hector moved to LA from El Paso in 1975. He formed “LA Bomb Squad” (LABS) with other neighborhood kids, and they went on to become internationally recognized as pioneers of the LA graffiti scene. He was the first artist to paint the infamous Belmont Tunnel, and together they used their art as an alternate to gangs and drugs. Still in close contact with the local graffiti/mural scene, Hector works as a graphic artist, fine artist, local youth mentor, and is the proud father of two wonderful daughters. His art has been seen in galleries across LA, in magazines and newspapers, and was published in The History of Los Angeles Graffiti Art and Los Angeles Graffiti.
Ashley Victoria
TOURS: Special event tours
Artist, actor, comedian.
Ashley came to Los Angeles by way of North Carolina where she studied Theatre Performance at University of North Carolina at Wilmington.
Kevin Flint
TOURS: Mostly his own loft, where he is frequently found wandering confused
A 20 year resident of Downtown LA and the Brewery Arts Complex, Kevin accidentally started LA Art Tours in 2007. He is still perplexed at how this occurred. Possibly from eating paint chips as a child.
He does like typing about himself in the 3rd person, and the last few minutes have been very exciting for him.
Artists
We used to try to maintain a comprehensive listing of all of the artists we encountered on the tours, but with all of the rapid changes, we found it impossible to keep up.
If you are wondering about a particular artist you saw on the tour and wish to follow or contact them, drop us a note at info@LAartTours.com, and we’ll try to help out. We also try to recoed and tag as many artists as possible on our Instagram, so please check there.